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2006 FORMULA 1: US GP  

• BEFORE RACE, ALONSO, RENAULT: "it is very important for Formula 1 to have a normal race in Indy. We have a great opportunity to put on a good show, and to demonstrate to the American fans that F1 is an interesting type of racing. To help us grow in America, we need to give them some excitement, some overtaking, and a good race."

RACE    (TOP OF PAGE)

FERRARI RACE REPORT    (TOP OF PAGE)

• Third win and first one-two finish of the season for Scuderia Ferrari Marlboro. This is the twelfth win for the Prancing Horse in a Grand Prix held in the United States, the sixth at Indianapolis, number 186 from 733 races. For Michael Schumacher this is his eighty seventh win from 242 Grand Prix starts, the fifth at this circuit.
• Jean Todt: "We have been dreaming of a result like this for a while now and finally it has come. After an extraordinary qualifying yesterday, we knew that if all the pieces of the jigsaw - reliability, consistent performance from the Bridgestone tyres, the work of the drivers and the team - fitted together, we were capable of getting the job done and that's what happened."
• After the strange 2005 race, run in circumstances that we don't want to go over again and won by Ferrari on a Technical Knock Out, today we repeated the result by being superior to all our rivals. This is the best possible start to the second half of the season and a one-two finish is a further encouragement to tackle the eight remaining races in the best possible way."
• Michael Schumacher, 1st: "I am very happy! It was a great weekend: first with Germany in the semi-final, then Italy, pole position yesterday and now this great victory today! We had prepared very well for these last two races, but for some reason, in Canada we were unable to demonstrate that fact. Here however, we have been strong since the start of free practice on Friday, in part due to the Bridgestone tyres."
• "We have made up six points which are important for the championships and we want to keep moving forward this way, fighting, pushing to the maximum and trying to win every time! Now we go back to Europe where we will try and continue to fight back. I want to thank the whole team who did a marvellous job!"
• Felipe Massa, 2nd: "It was a fantastic race for us, in which we showed that the championship is not yet over. The team has done an incredible job this weekend. Everything worked well, especially the Bridgestone tyres. The start went very, very well for me and I managed to pass Michael."
• "I had a very strong first stint, but he managed to pass me during the first pit stop, when I had a clutch problem which slowed me, but I was still motivated to fight hard for second place to give the team the maximum number of points from this race. First and second is a fantastic day for us and an important day in my career."
• Ross Brawn:"Everything went to plan today. It all felt good, especially on the tyre front, from the first day when they already delivered the grip we needed. We had seen some tyre graining at first, but this disappeared in the race. In fact the Bridgestone tyres were perfect and they allowed us to have an easy weekend and an easy race."
• "The team and drivers did a great job. Put all those elements together and you get a performance like the one we saw today. We had a few races where it went the wrong way and today the momentum came back to us in a substantial way."
• "I was surprised at the gap to the Renaults, but I don't think this is an indication for the future. I think the remaining races will be much closer. Now we have to keep the impetus going: in Magny-Cours, good tyres will once again be important and we will also have some improvements to the car that I am optimistic about."

RENAULT RACE REPORT    (TOP OF PAGE)

• The Renault F1 Team endured its toughest race weekend of the 2006 season today in Indianapolis.
• Run in sweltering temperatures at the famous Indianapolis Motor Speedway, the US Grand Prix proved tough for the Renault-Michelin package, with neither Giancarlo Fisichella nor Fernado Alonso able to keep the pace of their Ferrari rivals.
• The Renault drivers finished the race in their starting positions, scoring a total of ten points to bring the team's total from its North American campaign to 25 points -- compared to zero in 2005. The team now enjoys a 26-point advantage over Ferrari in the constructors' championship, while Fernando leads the drivers' championship by 19 points.
• Giancarlo's strong podium finish has elevated him to third position, on a total of 43 points. After a run of four successive victories, today's result only strengthens the team's determination to bounce back even stronger at the next event, its home race in Magny-Cours.
• Giancarlo Fisichella, 3rd position:
• "I am really pleased with this podium after the most difficult race of the season for us. I got a good start but was quite cautious under braking into turn 1, which let Fernando get past me. However, when the Safety Car went back in, I had a speed advantage over him and when I got a good run down the main straight, he didn't make life difficult for me."
• "After that, the key was to keep my pace, carry on pushing and see if something would happen to the Ferraris. Trulli was quick behind me too, so we had to keep on pushing all the way through the second stint, but everything held together and I was able to turn the revs down in the final part of the race."
• "Third was the best I could have done today, and I am very happy to have done the maximum for the team. To be on the podium at such a hard track for us is a strong result, and I think things will get back to normal again in Magny-Cours.
• Fernando Alonso, 5th position:
• "Fifth was the maximum I could do today. I was not competitive all weekend and the car was lacking grip all the way through the race, as well as completing race two of a very hard cycle for the engine. So I did the maximum possible, and made sure I scored points for the championship."
• "Looking back to last year, I scored zero points in North America; this year, I have scored 14 and my championship position is still very strong. That's a big reason to stay positive. Ferrari and Bridgestone were quicker than us today but in ten races, we have had the better tyres for nine of them, so I am not worried for the next Grands Prix."
• "We must carry on doing our job, and know that sometimes we can win, sometimes not. I am already looking forward to the next race, where I think we will see a more usual balance of competitiveness between Renault and Ferrari.
• Flavio Briatore, Managing Director:
• "Today was not our day. The competition was too strong for us, and the maximum we could have got from the race was eleven points. In the end, we scored ten, so we limited the damage as much as possible. Giancarlo did a fantastic job to finish third, it was everything we could ask of him today."
• "Fernando never got the car to his liking all weekend, but still scored valuable points. The team has done a great job during two difficult races in North America, and we all go to France determined to win again at our home race -- and extend our advantage in the championship."
• Pat Symonds, Executive Director of Engineering:
• "It was great to see Giancarlo on the podium, after a very strong race on a day when our competitors were clearly quicker than us. Fernando struggled with the car this weekend, but we did as much as we could to limit the damage in terms of the championship."
• "Track temperatures were in the 50s this afternoon, and on a circuit that demands so much from the tyres, Michelin responded in a conscientious manner. We may not have won this race, but we can still hold our heads high and they, like us, will be determined to bounce back on home territory in Magny-Cours in two weeks' time."

HONDA RACE REPORT    (TOP OF PAGE)

• Rubens Barrichello ended an action-packed United States Grand Prix in 6th position today, securing much-welcomed championship points for the Honda Racing F1 Team. His team-mate Jenson Button was caught up in the first lap drama which took out no fewer than 8 cars in a race which ultimately saw the field decimated by more than half. Just 9 drivers out of 22 took the chequered flag after 73 laps of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
• Jenson was hit by Juan Pablo Montoya on the left rear wheel, which in turn launched him into Nick Heidfeld. He returned to the pits where the team worked furiously to try to repair the damage but despite their best efforts, Jenson was forced to retire.
• Despite their disappointment that only one car finished the race, the Honda Racing F1 Team were encouraged by an otherwise positive weekend. Rubens and Jenson now head to Jerez where they will take part in a three-day test to prepare for the French Grand Prix in two weeks' time.
• Rubens Barrichello 6th:
• "It was a long and tough race this afternoon but I'm pleased to finish in a good points position. The car was really quite nice to drive and we had chosen an aggressive strategy in qualifying. The conditions out there were also really hard with the 37 degree heat. It was a real shame that only 9 cars finished because I wanted the US fans to have a great race this year."
• "There was a lot of action for them but the first lap incident was unfortunate. We have had a much more positive weekend here and I think if we work hard we can continue improving. We now have a busy test coming up in Jerez next week to evaluate some developments for France, where I hope we will begin a much better second half of the season."
• Jenson Button DNF:
• "It's really disappointing because we were fuelled to go long and I think the strategy would have worked well for us. We had a great opportunity today. I was approaching turn two and we were already three abreast when Montoya decided to get past all three of us at the same time."
• "He had a lot of room to go up the inside so I don't really know why he hit my back wheel, but that pushed me into Heidfeld who hit my right rear which launched his car into the air. I saw him roll and it was all just a big mess really. We came in and the guys worked on the car but it became clear that it would not have been able to finish the race."
• "The impact was so hard I'm surprised I was able to drive away from it, never mind get back to the pits, so it just goes to show what a strong car we have. Very frustrating but I guess we have to put it behind us and look ahead to the test next week, which should bring us some positive steps for Magny-Cours."
• Gil de Ferran, Sporting Director:
• "We have mixed feelings about today. Rubens drove a hard race pushing all the way to collect our first points since Monaco. Jenson unfortunately got caught out in the first lap incident and as a result of the damage incurred, we had to retire the car. Overall this was a much more competitive race for us than of late, although we continue to set our sights higher. We are testing in Jerez next week to evaluate improvements for the next round where hopefully we can continue our progression."

TOYOTA RACE REPORT    (TOP OF PAGE)

• A FINE FOUR AT THE OVAL
• Panasonic Toyota Racing will tonight begin its journey back across the Atlantic Ocean with five points in the bag after Jarno Trulli took 4th place at today's US Grand Prix. On a scorching hot day at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, the race was interrupted by an accident at the first corner that took seven cars out of contention. Jarno faced the toughest of afternoons, starting from the pit lane after the team changed his rear suspension following yesterday's problem in qualifying. But the Italian made the most of the early laps and was up to 8th place by lap 10. Running on a one-stop strategy he made up more ground and his finish added to his points from Canada last week. Ralf Schumacher started 8th on the grid and he was able to avoid the carnage at the start. He ran another strong race and held 5th place when he was forced to retire with a bearing failure on his front left wheel just ten laps from home. The Toyota team is next scheduled to test at Spain's Jerez circuit th
  is week in preparation for the French Grand Prix in a fortnight's time.
• Jarno Trulli (Car 8, Chassis TF106/08B) Race Classification: 4th Gap: +23.604s (from race winner)
  Qualifying Classification: 20th Time: 1m13.787s (+2.699s in Session 1) Grid: 22nd
• "Even though I was starting from the pit lane, I knew we had a big chance today because the car was quick. So it was a pity about yesterday but nevertheless I knew we could make up ground by pushing hard. I had a bit of luck because I could profit from the pile-up at the first corner and the safety car period. But I'm very happy because I was able to match the times of the other runners in the early stages despite having more fuel on board. The team did a great job analysing the data and in the end to finish 4th is a great result. I'm the kind of person who always wants more so we're disappointed to have narrowly missed out on the podium. But after everything that has gone wrong for me this year, it's great to have a day when everything goes right. Now I'm really confident for the rest of the season."
• Ralf Schumacher (Car 7, Chassis TF106/07B)
  Race Classification: DNF Qualifying Classification: 8th Time: 1m12.795s (+1.963s in Session 3) Grid: 8th
• "Today we were looking good for a strong points finish until our problem late on. I had a very long brake pedal so I had to come in. Then the team found that we had a wheel bearing failure on our front left. It was a very difficult race today because it was so hot out there. I also had a hard job keeping the car balanced because there was a slight difference in grip levels between my sets of tyres so that made it more difficult to drive. The failure was unfortunate because I was in a comfortable 5th place and those points would have been great news for the team. Nevertheless our performance this weekend shows that the development of our car is very advanced. But we need to keep pushing for reliability as we search for more points in the coming races."
• Tsutomu Tomita - Team Principal "First we are delighted that the American race fans saw a proper F1 race today. For Toyota, Jarno made an exceptional race from the pit lane. But he was confident before the race because our car was obviously fast this weekend. We went for a one-stop strategy because he was starting so far back and our Bridgestone tyres looked so consistent. Everything went well for him - including the accident and the safety car period - but his pace was very strong throughout the race even on heavy fuel loads. In the end we were fighting Fisichella and though we lost third by a couple of seconds we are very happy. Of course it hurts that we had another retirement with Ralf. It's a pity that he had a wheel bearing failure because he ran a very good race. Despite the fact that he was held up behind Barrichello early he was still able to pass Alonso at the last stop. So we need to work hard to improve our reliability. But our pace shows that we are getting nearer to the top cars. We must now push to continue our development programme so we can catch them. We haven't given up on our aim of winning our first race this season."

2006 QUALIFYING     (TOP OF PAGE)

schumacher on pole
M SCHUMACHER's 67th CAREER POLE: "I am very happy! It would be hard to expect better from this weekend ...The car is certainly competitive and I enjoyed the qualifying session ... My aim now is to push for a good points finish and I think we have the car to do that. I'm looking forward to the race."

FERRARI QUALIFYING REPORT, 1 & 2 ON THE GRID (TOP OF PAGE)

• Third pole position of the season for Scuderia Ferrari Marlboro, after those obtained in Sakhir and Imola, all of them with Michael Schumacher. A Ferrari thus starts a Grand Prix held in the United States from the top slot for the thirteenth time, bringing the total of Formula 1 poles to one hundred and eighty two. Michael has obtained the sixty seventh pole of his career, the fourth at this circuit.
• Jean Todt: "This was a dream qualifying! For the second time this season, we have an all-red front row of the grid and we are particularly pleased to have managed it today for various reasons: for our large number of American fans, who have given us a very warm welcome, for the team that has worked well, for our technical and commercial partners, especially Bridgestone, for me personally, as today I celebrate the end of my thirteenth year at the head of the Scuderia."
• "All that aside, it's points that count and we still have to get them. Tomorrow we have a good chance of winning, but we are well aware it could be difficult. The decisive parameters will be the same as ever: reliability, especially on the engine side, as this is the second race for them on both our cars on a very demanding track and with high temperatures; consistency of tyre performance; the talent of our drivers and their ability to avoid making mistakes; the work of the team. If all the pieces of the jigsaw go together, we can aspire to a good result."
• Michael Schumacher, POLE: "I am very happy! It would be hard to expect better from this weekend, at least so far: yesterday Germany and Italy got through to the World Cup semi-finals, today I got pole with Felipe alongside me. To complete the job, we need to win tomorrow and I will be trying my hardest to do so. Of course, I am a bit surprised at the gap to the others, but this is further confirmation that if all elements of our package are at their best, we are really competitive."
• "The 248 F1 has been well balanced since yesterday and the Bridgestone tyres have been very consistent in terms of performance, even in race configuration. This is the start of the second half of the season and clearly every race is ever more important to reduce the gap in both championships and we will try and start doing this as from tomorrow."
• Felipe Massa, 2ND: "It was a very good day, which I hope will be rounded off with a win for Brazil in the World Cup quarter finals. I am very happy to be on the front row, as it is a very important result for the team. Now however, we must concentrate on the race. The car was very competitive."
• "Over the course of the weekend we made various set-up changes which improved our performance. The Bridgestone tyres were very good, both over a single timed lap and over a distance. Tomorrow, it will be important to make a good start and ensure that those behind us don't manage to get between us. I am sure we have a very good chance."
• Ross Brawn: "We've been very pleased with our performance all weekend so far, as we saw yesterday in practice that the Bridgestone tyres were working extremely well in terms of consistency and performance. I am optimistic that this will carry through into the race. We need to have a good race tomorrow and today all the elements came together, so let's hope we see the same again tomorrow."
• "I felt we have had a strong car in both these last two weekends so Canada was a bit disappointing. But the tyres are working better here so we are seeing the true performance level of the car. I hope we get a good start tomorrow and then we can run the race we want."

RENAULT QUALIFYING REPORT, 3RD & 5TH  (TOP OF PAGE)

• The Renault F1 Team qualified strongly for tomorrow's United States Grand Prix this afternoon at Indianapolis, with Giancarlo Fisichella taking third position and Fernando Alonso fifth.
• Both drivers endured a difficult morning, struggling to get rid of an understeering car balance, and Fernando in particular continued to battle against this during the qualifying session.
• Giancarlo Fisichella completed a pressured qualifying hour in style with competitive laps in the final part of the session to put him third on the grid, while Fernando Alonso will start fifth -- with hopes of racing for a podium finish tomorrow.
• In the face of particularly strong competition from Ferrari, the team's objective will be to score the maximum number of championship points possible in order to preserve as large an advantage as possible in the constructors' chase.
• Giancarlo Fisichella, 3rd position: "I am really pleased to be third on the grid because this has not been the best circuit for us so far this weekend. I was quite happy with the car today, but we still have grip problems and we don't know why. Looking to the race, I am feeling confident and we have to be optimistic about our chances. We need to fight for a good finish to keep ourselves in a strong position in the championship."
• Fernando Alonso, 5th position: "I did the maximum possible today. The car was understeering this morning and we worked to try and correct it during practice. In the end, we were adding front wing during qualifying as well to get a better balance, but it was still difficult to drive and costing me time. The Grand Prix tomorrow will be a long one, so hopefully the strategy will work well for us and help me gain positions. I will be aiming for the podium, and trying to limit the damage in the championship."
• Pat Symonds, Executive Director of Engineering: "It seemed obvious after practice this morning that we would not be able to race Ferrari this weekend, and it would have been wrong to compromise our race strategy by going for the front row today. Giancarlo put in some excellent qualifying laps today and deserved his place on the second row."
• "We were not able to get rid of the understeer on Fernando's car but although this has compromised his performance today, things may turn in his favour tomorrow with track temperatures expected to be in the high 40s."
• "On the tyre side, the main concern this weekend was the durability of the tyres. The professional engineering approach Michelin took to the problems they experienced last year has solved that, and we look forward to a safe race tomorrow. There is no doubt it will also be a very tough Grand Prix, but we will certainly be racing for the podium."
• Denis Chevrier, Head of Trackside Engine Operations: "Last weekend in Montreal, our grid positions made us favourites for the race; today, we are much more clearly the challengers, with very strong opposition ahead of us on the grid. On the engine side, the weekend has unfolded normally and the RS26 engines have performed strongly. Our straightline speeds are competitive, which leaves us in a strong position for the race, and we are confident in our strategy."
• "It will be an extremely hot Grand Prix, which could have consequences for the reliability of all the engines on a circuit where they are under extreme duress. We expect a race full of difficult challenges, but one in which, if we perform to our potential, we can still score plenty of points."

McLAREN QUALIFYING REPORT, 9TH & 11  (TOP OF PAGE)

• Team McLaren Mercedes driver Kimi Raikkonen will start tomorrow's United States Grand Prix from ninth position after setting a time of 1:13.174. Juan Pablo's time of 1:12.150 in the second session was not enough to qualify for the final qualifying.
• Kimi Raikkonen, 9TH: "Obviously the Bridgestone runners seem to have a bit of an advantage today but that happens sometimes. We are not as quick as we would like, but we have a strong race strategy, so we will see what happens tomorrow. Ninth is not ideal but a podium should be possible in what I hope will be an exciting race."
• Juan Pablo Montoya, 11TH: "That was a shame as I should have been in the last session today. On my second flying run I had a bit of traffic, but the team reacted well and called me in to change tyres, however we missed the opportunity for a final attempt by only a few seconds. We have a strong race car, and we will now focus on establishing the best strategy possible."
• Ron Dennis: "We knew that the Bridgestone runners would be very competitive in qualifying and consequently we adopted a race strategy which we feel will give us the best chance for a strong result.
• Norbert Haug: "The speed today was not what we would have wished -- grid positions nine and 11 are definitely very disappointing. Nevertheless we think that our strategy is good as we know that our Michelin tyres will work well in the race."

HONDA FRIDAY REPORT  (TOP OF PAGE)

• The Honda Racing F1 Team's Anthony Davidson was the fastest man on track in Indianapolis today as free practice got underway at the legendary Motor Speedway. He topped the timesheets in both the morning and afternoon sessions and completed a total of 65 laps.
• The team's race drivers also made a positive start to their United States Grand Prix weekend, lapping within 0.1 seconds of each other in session one to be fourth and fifth fastest. In session two, the drivers tried different set-ups, with the result that Jenson finished the day eighth and Rubens 18th, split by 0.7 seconds.
• Anthony's fastest times celebrated a positive return to Indianapolis for Honda and the Honda Racing F1 Team. Earlier this week, Honda announced plans to build a new automobile plant near Greensburg, Indiana, 50 miles south of Indianapolis.
• The plant will begin mass production of fuel-efficient 4-cylinder vehicles in the Autumn of 2008, with an annual production capacity of 200,000 vehicles and the creation of 2,000 new jobs. The new plant will grow Honda's employment in North America to more than 37,000 associates.
• Anthony Davidson, 1ST: "It's been a very good day today. We had a very conclusive tyre test so my work is done on that side of things and Michelin have some positive results all round. We also had a trouble free day. I feel much more at home in the car this weekend than I did in Canada and I think everybody in the team has done a great job to make such a good start to the weekend. It's early days yet so we'll see how the rest of the weekend goes, but I'm pleased with the work we have done today."
• Rubens Barrichello: "It's been a good Friday, although I don't yet have a good balance on the car. We seem to be a little more competitive than in Canada and I want this to be a much better weekend for us so we'll just keep working hard towards the race on Sunday and see how things go from here."
• Jenson Button: "Today has been a positive day and we've made a few changes which have worked out well for us, so overall a good start to the weekend. It's looking better than Montreal did at this stage, thankfully, and it's nice to have a car that feels normal underneath me. We have something we can really work with and keep improving through the rest of the weekend so fingers crossed for tomorrow and the race."
• Gil de Ferran Sporting Director:
• "This has been quite a good Friday. We were able to complete all the planned running without any major issues and improve the cars throughout the day. It is also nice to have Anthony finish on top of the timesheets again, however there is still a lot of work to do prior to race day. An encouraging start nevertheless. It's good to be back in action at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway - a circuit which the whole team enjoys very much and we look forward to putting on a great race for the local crowd."

FERRARI FRI REPORT  (TOP OF PAGE)

• Jean Todt: "We are very happy to be back here in Indianapolis, a temple of motor sport on a world scale, which last year staged a race that, for reasons we are well aware of, was rather strange. It was good to see the warm welcome with which the American public greeted Ferrari. This country is the number one market for our company, with a legend built up around it even without the backing of Formula 1, which is so important in other countries."
• "As for the technical side, we went through our usual Friday routine, concentrating mainly on finding the best set up for the cars and checking the consistency of performance of our tyres. Friday is always too soon to make predictions, but from what we have seen, here more than elsewhere tyre performance will be crucial, both in terms of first lap performance and in their consistency over the longer distance. It is up to our engineers and our friends at Bridgestone to do a good job of analysing the data we acquired today."
• Michael Schumacher, 2ND: "I am happy with what we have seen on track today. The situation looks pretty good, which means we can tackle the rest of the weekend with confidence. Let's say I had more problems trying to watch the quarter finals on television than I did in the cockpit of my Ferrari...When I went off the track this morning, maybe I was still thinking a bit too much about the grass on the football pitch! I am very happy that Germany beat Argentina. It's a great result. Now I hope that Italy also wins, then we can all concentrate on our main objective which is to win the race on Sunday."
• Felipe Massa: "It was a good day's work. The car and Bridgestone tyres all worked very well. We have to study the data carefully, but I feel I can say this is the best first day we have had over a Grand Prix weekend for quite some time. I worked a lot on checking the consistency of the tyres, doing some long runs which produced encouraging results. All in all, I am confident for qualifying tomorrow and Sunday's race."
• Ross Brawn: "It's been a useful day. We worked well, without seeing any problems on the cars, which seemed quite well balanced right from the start. Also the Bridgestone tyres worked well from the outset. We had a bit of graining, but that could be down to the condition of the track, which is still dirty and has little rubber on it. All in all, a good start to the weekend."

BMW FRI REPORT

• The BMW Sauber F1 Team made a good start to its US Grand Prix weekend with all the drivers feeling confident the car can be competitive on the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Robert Kubica was second quickest in the final session, while Nick Heidfeld and Jacques Villeneuve were 13th and 16th respectively.
• Robert Kubica, 3RD: "This morning we had some problems with the set up but this afternoon it was much better. I have done three long runs with the main goal to see how the tyres would perform and what the degradation would be. We have a good pace, some things to resolve still but it was much better than this morning."
• Nick Heidfeld: "In the first session I didn’t do a timed lap, and for the afternoon we made a change to the car. Unfortunately the positive result was not shown in the lap times because I was stuck in traffic on my second outing. I tried to find a clear lap by dropping back, but even this didn’t work."
• Jacques Villeneuve: "The car is competitive but the track is a little bit slippery. We need to work on the set up a little bit, but I think we should be all right for the rest of the weekend."
• Mario Theissen (BMW Motorsport Director): "It was a successful first practice day without technical problems. What Robert discovered for the set-up in the first session was transferred to the other cars for the second session."
• "Jacques and Nick continued this set-up work in the second free practice, while Robert concentrated on tyre evaluation over long runs. The only unknown quantity for the weekend remains the weather. For Saturday thunder and lightning is predicted, but we do not have a lot of experience of these conditions on this track or our tyres."
• Willy Ramp (Technical Director Chassis): "As usual Robert was concentrating on tyre evaluation. The long runs brought us very good results, which makes our decision easy. Jacques and Nick have been working on set up, which here at Indianapolis is always a special challenge."
• "The infield is pretty much like Monaco, while the long straight reminds us of Monza. We will have to find a compromise to decide on a set up that is okay for both these characteristics."

2006 RACE PREVIEW (RENAULT  BMW  McLAREN  HONDA  WILLIAMS  SHELL  TOYOTA)

RENAULT PREVIEW  (TOP OF PAGE)

• Fernando Alonso:
• Q: Fernando, what are your feelings on returning to Indianapolis?
• FA: I am excited to be going back. The fans we see there are really passionate about Formula 1 , they are real motorsport fans and really interested in everything that is going on. The atmosphere in the paddock, in the pit-lane and around the track is fantastic thanks to them, so I am looking forward to racing there again.
• Q: Are you apprehensive about returning to Indy after last year's events?
• FA: This year, it is very important for Formula 1 to have a normal race in Indy. We have a great opportunity to put on a good show, and to demonstrate to the American fans that F1 is an interesting type of racing. To help us grow in America, we need to give them some excitement, some overtaking, and a good race.
• Q: How easy is overtaking at Indy?
• FA: It is a little bit easier than at some other circuits because we have a great passing opportunity into turn 1 if you can slipstream another car on the main straight. Straightline speed is very important at Indy, so we run the car with a low level of downforce like in Montreal. For the infield section, you need good traction, so we concentrate on getting those two very different characteristics from the car.
• Q: What will be your aims for the weekend?
• FA: I am expecting another really tough battle. It was very close during the race in Montreal between Renault and McLaren, and Kimi put a lot of pressure on me all the way through the first part of the race. I expect it will be similar again this weekend, because we will be running basically the same cars without any developments on them. Depending on the tyre situation, Ferrari will be very competitive too. I have never finished a race in Indy, so this is another place where I really want to get on the podium and add a trophy to my collection!
• Giancarlo Fisichella
• Q:Giancarlo, Indianapolis is one of the biggest names in world motorsport. What's it like to compete there?
• GF: It's fantastic. There is so much history at the Speedway, and you can feel it every time you go there. This is one of the big races of the year for Formula 1, and the circuit has some unique characteristics like the banking, which is very high speed and different to anything else we encounter all year. The fans bring a special atmosphere to the circuit as well, and I think we can have a great weekend in Indy.
• Q: The circuit has two very distinct halves , one that is very high speed, and a tight, twisty infield. How do you find the right set-up for the car?
• GF: It's not easy to get the right balance! You have the high speed section where you want low drag to be competitive on the straight and then the infield where, in a perfect world, you would have maximum downforce to be quick. So the important thing is to find a good compromise between the two, which we do by running quite low levels of downforce, and using soft mechanical settings on the car to get the grip at low speed.
• Q: How do you expect to perform after last weekend in Montreal?
• GF: Canada showed us that we have a very competitive package at these low downforce circuits. We had both cars on the front row in qualifying, and we were able to race at the front on Sunday. I didn't get the result that I wanted after making a mistake at the start of the race, but I am very confident that our car will be able to run at the front again this weekend in Indy. We need to wait and see how the tyre performance compares before we can predict any results. But we know that an aggressive approach is needed to carry on beating Ferrari , and that is what we will have.

McLAREN PREVIEW (TOP OF PAGE)

• Formula 1 heads to the legendary Indianapolis Motor Speedway this week for Sunday's United States Grand Prix, round 10 of the 2006 FIA Formula 1 World Championship.
• The United States Grand Prix has taken place at seven different tracks, Sebring, Riverside, Watkins Glen, Long Beach, Detroit, Dallas and Phoenix before relocating to Indianapolis in 2000 after a gap from the calendar of nine years.
• The Motor Speedway is located 8km north west of Indianapolis and was built in the early 20th century as a test track for the motor industry in Detroit. The circuit was paved with bricks when it became a race track shortly after. Then in the forties the track was asphalted, except a yard of bricks at the start-finish line, giving rise to the 'Brickyard' nickname.
• Team McLaren Mercedes took victory in 2001 with Mika Hakkinen, the last win the Finnish double World Champion secured for the team before his retirement from Formula 1.
• The McLaren name has a successful history in America, beginning in 1959 when founder Bruce won the inaugural United States Grand Prix at the Sebring, four years before he formed the McLaren team. Since the team's United States Formula 1 debut in 1966, McLaren has been the most successful Formula 1 Constructor, with nine race victories.
• The McLaren marque has also seen success in other American motorsport events. In the late 60s, McLaren dominated the CAN-AM championship, winning the title on TBC occasions. In addition the team has won the illustrious Indianapolis 500 three time, in 1972 with Mark Donohue and Johnny Rutherford taking victory twice, in 1974 and 1976.
• Kimi Raikkonen: "At Montreal, we were able to show the step forward we have made with the MP4-21 and hopefully this week in America we will be able to challenge for the top step of the podium. The Indianapolis Motor Speedway is a great venue, and it is one of those everyone wants to say they have won at. The fans are also great, they are real petrol heads and I hope we can put on a good race for them this year."
• "The track is all about compromise and is tough on all elements of the car. It is another fast track, like the past two of Silverstone and Montreal. Set-up wise the United States Grand Prix is more similar to Montreal as you have the long straight and slow corners, but you do have to allow for the slower infield section also."
• "You can really challenge for position here, for sure the best opportunity is slipstreaming along the straight section of the oval and pass under braking at the right hander that takes you back into the infield. It also helps that the track is so wide here."
• Juan Pablo Montoya: "After my race in Canada, I cannot wait to get straight back on track this weekend, as the car felt really quick. It is even better for me that we are at Indy this race and competing for the fans, who are amazing and I personally have awesome support from Colombia, so I am looking forward to getting out there and putting on a fantastic show for them."
• "The Indianapolis Motor Speedway has such great memories for me from my days in CART and of course winning the Indy 500 in 2000, it is such a special venue, full of history and legend. The nature of the track, with the immense straight along the oval and the tight infield sees us use a medium to low downforce configuration to allow for the contrast in track style.
• "The 1.7km section of the banked oval we use is the longest stretch we have at full throttle all season, it is pretty good fun as by the time you get to the end of the straight you really feel like you are going super fast because of the length of time!"
• Martin Whitmarsh, CEO Formula One, Team McLaren Mercedes:
• "It was clear in Montreal that we are reducing the gap to the Renault as we continue to develop the pace of the MP4-21. We still have work to do, however we demonstrated we can challenge for victories and that is what we intend to do this weekend. Everyone at Team McLaren Mercedes is looking forward to returning to the Indianapolis Motor Speedway this week."
• "It is a great track and vital for Formula 1 to race at, not only because we need tracks that create exciting racing, bit it also allows us to call the sport a true world championship. Formula 1 knows we have to put on a great race this weekend and Team McLaren Mercedes are looking to be a strong part of that."
• Norbert Haug, Vice Predsident, Mercedes-Benz Motorsport:
• "Since 2000 Indianapolis has been on the Formula One calendar, so in 2006 the race will take place for the seventh time. As everybody is aware of, the sixth event did not go according to the plans of Formula One and it wants to show the spectators a first-class race this year and our team is keen on contributing their part."
• "The track layout is challenging and the sector with 22 seconds of consecutive full throttle is extremely demanding for the engines. The task for the infield is exactly the opposite and to be fast you need a good compromise between top speed and good balance in corners."
• "The race in Indianapolis is one of the most important ones on the calendar and is in the biggest market for Mercedes-Benz outside Germany. There we want to continue our positive trend of the last races."

BMW PREVIEW (TOP OF PAGE)

• The tracks in Montreal and Indianapolis have two things in common, both are in North America and both demand a mid downforce level set up. Apart from that they cannot be more different.
• A distance of 1,400 kilometres lays between the idyllically located island race track in Canada and the gigantic oval in the USA. The tons of materials used by the F1 teams will be transported over this distance by a group of trucks that have been centrally organised.
• They leave on Sunday night after the race for the Indianapolis Motor Speedway where, on 2 July , the tenth out of 18 rounds for the 2006 FIA World Championship will be held. The BMW Sauber F1 Team is looking forward to going to the track which demands a very special set up.
• Nick Heidfeld: “I am looking forward to the U.S. GP. Indianapolis is the mecca of American motorsport. For us F1 drivers it is something special to drive on the banking, although basically this is a simple task as you just go flat out. We only use a part of the oval, as especially for F1 an infield section with lots of corners was built for its debut year in 2000."
• "In the first year we didn’t know whether it was better to drive with a lot of downforce in this part of the track, or if it was more important to be fast on the straight and have very little rear wing. In 2006 this question will be asked again, as we have changed from V10 to V8 engines and have approximately 200bhp less."
• "I have done well in Indianapolis. In 2001 I had one of my best races to date. Although I lost first, second and seventh gears, I finished sixth and scored a point.”
• Jacques Villeneuve: “The F1 circuit in Indianapolis isn’t a bad track, although I feel it’s not as good as it could be. If I had designed it I would have used both straights on the oval, not just the one which is at the start of the lap. It is very long and we get up to speeds of well over 300kph."
• "Here you are driving next to a wall and at the end you have to brake heavily, so that makes if different to other tracks. When you get near the end of the lap there is a kink where you rejoin the main oval and go into the final corner, which is banked. In this corner we reach speeds of 280kph and it doesn’t really feel like a corner."
• "It is a difficult track to drive and the fact it is bumpy doesn’t help. It’s always nice to go to Indy after a spell in Europe and the atmosphere outside the paddock is always great. It feels a bit like a home Grand Prix because of the number of Canadian fans that are there, and the US fans also know me quite well.”
• Robert Kubica:
• “Another new track for me. Another new experience. I just hope the car goes well there. Our testing has been very positive lately, so we all have high hopes for the races that are coming up and this includes Indianapolis. I am looking forward to seeing the Brickyard, as obviously I have heard a lot about it."
• "It will be interesting driving an Formula One car on banking, but it will not be a totally new experience as I have driven on banking in F3. From what I have heard other drivers say we are doing speeds in excess of 300kph and get fairly close to the wall.”
• Mario Theissen, BMW Motorsport Director:
• “The US GP is the start of the second half of the season and at the same time the second half of the overseas double header in North America. We really hope the American motorsport fans have overcome the disappointment of 2005. In 2006 we want to deliver a better event."
• "With regards to sales figures, the US is the most important market for the BMW Group, as there we have the two biggest production facilities outside Germany."
• "For the BMW P86 engine Indianapolis means the highest demands. On the oval’s straight the drivers go full throttle for more than 20 seconds, with the most demanding part being the second half when at the end of the straight they are on full throttle in seventh gear for more than ten seconds."
• "After our good performances in Silverstone and Montreal, we would like to continue this trend in Indianapolis. Our goal is again to get both cars into the third part of qualifying and to collect points in the race.”
• Willy Rampf, Technical Director Chassis:
• “The banking on turn 1 of the Indianapolis circuit makes it unique in F1, although I would not call this turn a real corner. It is a full throttle slight curve and leads onto a 1820 metres straight, which is the longest on any F1 circuit. For this straight we want to have very little drag. It is also here where we will see overtaking manoeuvres, as the track is very wide and allows the drivers to take different lines."
• "The demands for the infield are different. This part of the circuit, built especially for F1’s debut in 2000, is a chain of slow corners. Good traction and brake stability is required. The contrast between the oval and the infield is extreme and turns set up work into a split exercise. In the end Indianapolis is a medium downforce track, similar to Montreal."

SHELL PREVIEW (TOP OF PAGE)

• ENGINE OIL
• · Shell Helix SL-0932 is being retained for the U.S. Grand Prix in Indianapolis.
• · The Ferrari 248 F1 engine will be under a lot of pressure at this race, undergoing very hot temperatures, due to the track dynamics in addition to the possible high temperatures we’ve come to experience at Indy.
• · The renowned banked section leading into the long high-speed straight is one of the most thrilling parts of the track. Nevertheless it is also one of the most demanding on the engine. It requires maximum power and maximum commitment from the car, engine and lubricant.
• · This Shell Helix formulation has responded healthily this season at high power tracks such as Silverstone and Montreal and will suit the legendary American circuit's demands.
• GEARBOX OIL
• · The new gearbox formulation Shell Spirax L-10193, performed successfully at its maiden race in Montreal.
• · This lubricant protected the gearbox at a track which imposed extreme pressure on the components. It will also be supplied for Indianapolis.
• FUEL
• · The high performance Shell V-Power ULG 62L/3 introduced in Imola, will be powering the Ferraris.
• SHELL FACT
• · The Indy circuit has one of the highest percentages of wide open throttle of the Formula One season. During the full throttle periods, exhaust gases will reach temperatures above 800 degrees Celsius making the exhaust glow the same colour as the red bodywork.

HONDA PREVIEW (TOP OF PAGE)

• The Honda Racing F1 Team heads south from Canada to the United States this week for Round Ten of the 2006 FIA Formula One World Championship. The second race in the mid-season double-header will take place on Sunday at the historic Indianapolis Motor Speedway, the second oldest venue in the F1 calendar.
• Following the events of the 2005 United States Grand Prix, all of the Formula One teams will be keen to put on an exciting show for the thousands of motor racing fans who will be attending over the weekend.
• Rubens Barrichello: "I really enjoy racing in the United States and have a lot of friends based there so I always look forward to this particular race. The track itself is a lot of fun with some great overtaking places and it feels good to drive through the first corner of the oval banking flat out, although it is an easy corner for us in an F1 car."
• "Indianapolis has such a strong motor racing heritage and traditionally puts on a great show so I hope that the race weekend goes really well this year for all the fans who come to watch. I had a disappointing race in Montreal so we will be hoping for better this weekend, but it will be tough for us until we return to testing and work on improving the performance of the car. "
• Jenson Button: "It's always exciting to race at a venue which has such a strong history and Indianapolis always has a great atmosphere. The circuit itself is very slow with the tight in-field section. I generally prefer fast flowing circuits but you can overtake around here which should make for some exciting racing for the fans."
• "We will be using different tyres at Indy to those we used last weekend in Montreal so I am hoping that we can have a better race there. I also hope that we can give the American public a really good race this year."
• Gil de Ferran, Sporting Director: "Whilst we were obviously disappointed with our result in Canada, we have less than a week now to prepare and optimise our package for the United States Grand Prix this coming weekend."
• "The Indianapolis Motor Speedway is a very challenging circuit, where the tight infield sections lead into the oval and one of the longest open-throttle sections of any of the tracks on the F1 calendar, calling for a difficult compromise between car set-up, aerodynamics and gearing."
• "Besides my strong personal emotional connection with the place, we all enjoy the very special atmosphere of Indianapolis and very much look forward to returning there this year for what I'm sure will be a great race."

WILLIAMS PREVIEW (TOP OF PAGE)

• The legendary Indianapolis Motor Speedway is the venue for the 10th round of the FIA Formula One World Championship, the United States Grand Prix, the second North American race in succession. Constructed in 1909 from 3.2 million bricks (hence the nickname "the Brickyard"), Indianapolis has nearly a century of motorsport history and is also the largest spectator sporting facility in the world.
• Despite its iconic status in the States as host to the Indy 500 and the Brickyard 400, Indianapolis only debuted on the Formula One calendar in 2000. With just five starts to date at the Brickyard, the WilliamsF1 Team will be seeking to capitalise on the inherent pace of the FW28 which was frustrated at last weekend's race in neighbouring Canada.
• Between the races
• Despite the American back-to-back not affording the team's drivers much downtime between races, Mark and Alex will join the Discovery Channel Pro Am Cycling team for three days at their training camp in Colorado Springs immediately after the Canadian GP.
• The pair will participate in a special cycling meets motorsports athlete testing and training programme alongside two cyclists from the Discovery team, Tom Danielson and Jason McCartney, as well as three NASCAR drivers, Carl Edwards, Bobby Labonte and David Ragan. Meanwhile, Nico Rosberg turns 21 on Tuesday and will celebrate the occasion with his parents in the States before heading to Indianapolis on Wednesday.
• Making the car go faster
• Without time for a test session before the US Grand Prix, the team head to Indianapolis this weekend armed with data collated from recent test sessions and the updated components which were run on both FW28s in Canada.
• Indianapolis from a technical perspective
• Located in the state capital of Indiana, the Indianapolis Motor Speedway is the oldest motor racing circuit in the world but experienced major modifications in 1998 to accommodate Formula One, including reconstruction work to the original oval layout to incorporate an infield section. The drivers now negotiate 73, 2.6 mile laps consisting of 13 turns, nine right and four left, and some of the longest straights on the calendar.
• Similar to Montréal, Indy is a power circuit which demands a medium downforce set-up, but its rhythm is broken by the twisty infield area where, contrastingly, good traction is key. Inevitably, finding a balance between the two will therefore be the challenge that the drivers and their engineers will face over the weekend.
• Engine power is undoubtedly rewarded at this revered circuit which sees the cars reach 335km/h and endure 55% of the lap at full throttle. With such events lasting up to 23 seconds, the longest seen over the season, engines must be able to withstand the extremes of thermal and mechanical pressures.
• The unique nature of the oval's 9° banking also places certain loadings on the tyres. Combined with an intense build up of heat from the high speed straights, reliable, softer rubber which offers grip in the infield section is critical to complete the challenge of one of America's finest institutions.
• Mark Webber: "It will be good to be back in America this week and I hope that we can put on a good show for the fans, they deserve it and Formula One needs it. As a team, we also need to do a lot better than we did in Canada, primarily by benefiting from a better tyre choice. I think we can be quite strong in Indianapolis, providing we make the right decisions in our preparations. I like racing in the US, even if the Speedway was not designed for Formula One cars, and I respect the history of the track. It's important that we come home with some points from these two flyaways."
• Nico Rosberg: "Again, Indy is a track I haven't yet raced at but one which I've learnt on the simulator. It seems to be quite different from the other circuits due to the very long straight and the banking. It will be interesting to see what Michelin and Bridgestone will come up with after what happened last year. I really hope that the fans will come back this year because I have watched several Indy 500 races on the TV and the atmosphere is just great with all those huge grandstands packed with people! For a driver, the bigger the crowd, the better it is!"
• Sam Michael, Technical Director, WilliamsF1:
• "Indianapolis is a unique circuit, one which has a slow speed infield section followed by a long straight that goes through the oval, with around 23 seconds of full throttle time. It is an interesting proposition for the drivers and the engineers because most of the lap requires maximum downforce while, for the straight, you want to run as little wing as possible. Minimising drag on this section will be important."
• "We have analysed all the data from the last Grand Prix to ensure that we have a strong tyre choice with Bridgestone and we will take well tested and proven constructions to cope with the aggressive surface on the banking.
• "Car specification for Indy will remain similar to that which we ran in Montréal as the downforce levels at both circuits are fairly similar to each other. Set-up will also be similar as both tracks are dominated by slow speed corners and fast straights."
• Simon Corbyn, Head of F1 Race Engineering, Cosworth:
• "The Formula One circuit at Indianapolis is a combination of the longest straight on the calendar and a tight infield section. It is therefore a demanding track for engine performance and reliability, while it's also challenging in terms of optimising the engine control systems."
• "Both CA2006 Series 4 engines will carry over to their second race events at the US Grand Prix. Nico's engine did not suffer any damage from the accident in Canada so it will be a strong second event engine. Cosworth are proud to have a long history of success racing at the Brickyard. Let's see if we can add to it this weekend with WilliamsF1."

TOYOTA PREVIEW (TOP OF PAGE)

• Following Sunday's Canadian Grand Prix, the Formula 1 teams are currently flying south for the second part of the North American double-header. Indianapolis, the historic heart of American racing, has been the home of the US Grand Prix since 2000. The modern day F1 circuit uses part of the famous banked oval before veering off onto a twisty infield section. Last year's grand prix was a disappointment to the race fans after worries about tyre safety resulted in most of the field completing only the formation lap. That means the teams will be itching to make up for that this weekend and show the American race-watching public a real grand prix. After Jarno Trulli's points for Panasonic Toyota Racing in Canada, he and team mate Ralf Schumacher will be pushing hard to record another strong result on Sunday.
• Ralf Schumacher (Car 7): "Of course I have mixed memories of Indianapolis, not least from last year. It was a tough decision for the teams not to race and it was particularly hard on the fans who had travelled to see the event. But it was the right decision because it was clearly unsafe to race and the safety of the drivers has to come first. It's in the nature of a racing driver to want to race but I hope the fans will understand that it was just impossible last year. Now we just have to hope that we have a trouble-free race this time so that the American public can look forward to seeing Formula 1 as it really is. The organisers have done a good job with the circuit at the Speedway and the challenge is to set up the car for good speed along the oval section while retaining stability through the twisty infield. The atmosphere is usually great at Indianapolis and I hope it will be similar again this year."
• Jarno Trulli (Car 8): "Last year's US Grand Prix was an unfortunate weekend, and I was most sorry for the spectators who had come to the event. But we had no choice on race day because the risk to the drivers was too big. Of course it was hard to step out of the car but even though I was on pole, I would not have wanted to race under those conditions. Now we will just hope for a better weekend for everyone concerned this time. Indianapolis is a special venue and I enjoy the atmosphere both at the circuit and in the town because the people are so friendly. It has not been a very lucky season so far for me but we have definitely improved our performance as the season has gone on and the points in Canada were very welcome. I'm really looking forward to finishing the year well and I think I've earned the right to a change of fortune. But most of all, I just hope we can put on a good show in Indianapolis for the fans and try to erase the memories of last year."
• Pascal Vasselon - Senior General Manager Chassis: "The incredible story of last year's US Grand Prix shows just what a unique track Indianapolis is. The circuit has conflicting demands that lead to impossible compromises for both aerodynamics and tyres. You would like to run a Monza low downforce configuration for the banking, which features well over 20 seconds of full throttle. Then as soon as you enter the infield you would like to be in Monaco high downforce configuration. As for tyres, you need grip on the slow infield section but you cannot go too soft because there is a very high wear rate at the rear due to the rough asphalt on the banking. Last year's situation occurred because of Indy-specific tyre loading and track conditions which were difficult to simulate on a test rig. Both tyre companies will have learned lessons for 2006 and we hope for a much happier event this time. The Indianapolis Motor Speedway is a purpose-built venue the likes of which we don't have in Europe and a wonderful venue for watching racing."

BRIDGESTONE RACE PREVIEW

• Bridgestone aims to give US fans thrilling spectacle
• After the tough demands of the high speed Circuit Gilles-Villeneuve in Montreal, where Bridgestone shod Michael Schumacher claimed a second place podium position, Bridgestone Motorsport heads now to the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, the home of the famous Indy 500.
• The Formula One cars will drive over the historic bricks at the IMS but unlike the Indy 500 they will use a unique combination of part banked oval and part in-field track. This places great demands on the teams and tyre manufacturers as they strive to find the best set-ups and tyres for their cars. Run over 73 laps, the U.S.A Grand Prix is set to be an exhilarating mid-season spectacle for the American fans.
• Hiroshi Yasukawa, Director of Motorsport:
• "Coming to the Indianapolis Motor Speedway is always a special event for Bridgestone. Through our Firestone brand we have a wonderful connection with this circuit and its racing heritage. The fans this year deserve to see a thrilling and highly competitive grand prix and I know our technical staff have been working closely with our teams to make sure we give them a great race."
• Tyres for Indianapolis -- 4.192 km
• The 2006 tyre regulations permit each driver seven sets of dry tyres, four sets of wet weather tyres and three sets of extreme wet weather tyres. Combined with the increased number of teams running with Bridgestone in 2006, approximately 1,200 Bridgestone Potenza Formula One tyres have been sent from the Technical Centre in Kodaira City, Tokyo, to Indianapolis.
• Hisao Suganuma, Bridgestone Motorsport Technical Manager:
• "Indianapolis is quite unique with its combination of very fast oval and slow infield sections. From a tyre point of view this means we need a tyre with performance characteristics to make the best of both sections of the track. The slow infield requires tyres with good grip which means we are looking at compounds from the softer end of the scale. However, the oval is extremely fast so the tyres also need to have very good stability and braking performance."
• "Turn 13 in particular submits the tyres to very high loads and high lateral forces. The drivers are on full throttle through this section so the tyres must be strong enough to cope with both these directional forces. Normally tyres are loaded more on the inboard side of the car because of the negative camber."
• "At Indianapolis however, the banking means the outboard side is also loaded so tyre manufacturers have to be vigilant here. Bridgestone has taken all these factors into consideration when deciding with our teams which tyre specifications to bring. The specs have all been very carefully chosen for this race and we will be looking for a good result this weekend."

(TOP OF PAGE)